Messi "best player of all time"

[Walken]

Nah. I watch his games. He seems like a bit of a diva during many games. So it doesn't surprise me he is considered a diva.

The whole not celebrating with team mates as if not interested, then celebrating a tap in like crazy when already 4 up. I've seen that too many times.

I think you lack objectivity here, I don't think I've ever seen a more driven, professional footballer than Ronaldo

 

[bicycleheader]

Maradona dragged Napoli and Argentina to titles

Ronaldo carried Portugal to the Euro win and is doing the same now

Messi is a truly wonderful player, absolute genius on the ball and is great to watch but he’s struggled woefully on the international stage which tends to be the marker

He hasn't actually struggled woefully though. Failed to live up to the huge expectations sure. Struggled woefully, nowhere close.

 

[bicycleheader]

I think you lack objectivity here, I don't think I've ever seen a more driven, professional footballer than Ronaldo

Nah. Call it as I see it. I didn't say Cronaldo wasn't driven or professional. There's an argument to say he might be the most driven sports person ever, to reach the levels he has with the talents he had to begin with.

You can be a bit of a diva and be driven and professional. In fact I think he is

 

[davek]

No, I mean why would you pick something that they are both great at? They are probably close to the two most trophy laden players of all time.

And it's not stylistic preferences Dave. It's football. Basic football. What they do with the ball at their feet. One can dribble with it, can play a range of superb passes from all over the pitch despite having two or three players pressuring him. Can score a shedload of goals with top level finishing.

The other guy simply cannot do all of that.

And Messi hasn't got the pace of Ronaldo and his firepower getting shots off or his aerial ability....and for the purposes of this particular comparison he has one CL title to his name and one major international trophy win.

 

[nsno-chris]

He hasn't actually struggled woefully though. Failed to live up to the huge expectations sure. Struggled woefully, nowhere close.

He has mate considering his talent and it’s a real shame to see. I can’t recall him having a good tournament

do you remember maradona in 86, that’s how you set your marker

 

[Prevenger17]

Both among probably the greatest players of all time, though I obvs haven't seen enough football to claim that to be fact.

Ronaldo has this weird mix of clinical narcissism and genuine leadership quality. It's odd to see him so cheerfully carry an absolutely dirge Portuguese team, like he relishes being part of international football's answer to West Ham to show how good he is, and then acting so sulky and childish in a genuinely good RM side.

Messi needs his Barca team around him, no shame in that, but is definitely better than Ronaldo when all those cogs are working around him. It just means Ronaldo shines a bit more on the international level, Messi on the club level

 

[bicycleheader]

And Messi hasn't got the pace of Ronaldo and his firepower getting shots off or his aerial ability....and for the purposes of this particular comparison he has one CL title to his name and one major international trophy win.

Ah, the aerial ability argument. Sorry, but when it gets to that you are really reaching.

So two of your rebuttals are that the taller/bigger player is better in the air and can kick the ball harder.

I think the attributes I listed are a bit more important. Just a bit.

Messi has 4 CL titles Dave. Cronaldo has 5. And one has won an international tournament. It's not exactly a devastatingly large gap to make up for the gap in pure talent.

 

[bicycleheader]

He has mate considering his talent and it’s a real shame to see. I can’t recall him having a good tournament

do you remember maradona in 86, that’s how you set your marker

Maradona 86 is where it all started for me to be honest. I didn't think I'd see a player as good as that again. Then Messi came along.

Messi has underachieved, but has brought his country to 3 finals. Argentina are not actually that much of a regular in finals of tournaments. So in context of his countries performance since Maradona 86 he has not done that badly at all.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Ronaldo/Best/Messi/Puskas/Platini

Which one...

 

[witchdoc187]

Ronaldo over the last few seasons despite being older has annihilated him. Messi has never done it for his country Ronaldo is

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

How do I decide who's the best easy, who gives the most pleasure when watching them play, who gets me on the edge of my seat when watching them, who given the choice would I pay to go and watch, the answer each time is Messi. He's just wonderful to watch.

 

[davek]

Ah, the aerial ability argument. Sorry, but when it gets to that you are really reaching.

So two of your rebuttals are that the taller/bigger player is better in the air and can kick the ball harder.

I think the attributes I listed are a bit more important. Just a bit.

Messi has 4 CL titles Dave. Cronaldo has 5. And one has won an international tournament. It's not exactly a devastatingly large gap to make up for the gap in pure talent.

It's enough of a difference to warrant mention, for sure.

I doubt now there's too many people still talking up Messi over Ronaldo. Messi has faded badly.

As for Maradona....Diego is about two levels up from Messi. There is only embarrassment that awaits anyone seriously arguing Messi and him are "equals"....yet some have done!!

 

[davek]

Which one...

The slim one.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

The slim one.

d**k...

xx

 

[gmb]

This is a well thought out debate on this much hashed argument. This sort of balance would never happen in a discussion of this in the states. Hard to find a person who doesn't rate messi miles ahead and consider ronaldo the ultimate diva. Basically the main media narrative. I'm torn, but Ronaldo in the last few years has laid claim to the 'leader' moniker of the two.